Filament forming apparatus



Feb. 19, 1952 w. c. HUEBNER FILAMENT FORMING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 28. 1949 INVENTOR. WILLIHME- HLIEENER POWER PACK HTT DR'NE 5 Feb. 19, 1952 HUEBNER 2,586,046

FILAMENT FORMING APPARATUS Filed Jn. 28. 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ii 1? W Wm POWER PACK INVENTOR. WILLIFIM E-HLIEIENER 23 HTTuRNEys Feb. 19, 1952 w, c, HUEBNER 2,586,046

FILAMENT FORMING APPARATUS K ,1 )1 INVENTOR. 153 WILLIHM DHUEENER BYZ/ r 56 E M/A QWZz W HTTEIRNEYS Feb. 19, 1952 W. C. HUEBNER FILAMENT FORMING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 28. 1949 POWER PACK Wmum E. HUEENEE Feb. 19, 1952 w. c. HUEBNER 2,586,046

' FfILAMENT FORMING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 28. 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

WI HM E.- HL EENER BYWWLIM 5 4 2M 5;

HTTDRNEYE Patented Feb. 19 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT --*()FF1IE I FILAMENT FORMINGAPPARATUS William C. Huebner, New York, N. Y.

Application January 28,1949, Serial No. 73,374

34 Claims.

This invention-relates to an apparatus .for the -production of continuous-filaments from.:.electrically chargeable material or aiplurality of -materials, at least one of-which is electrically chargeable and ma fluid. state.

As used inthisapplication, the term filament includes single-strand, untwisted thread or fibrilliform strands, which--may be either solid or tubular; and also ribbons Orthe like, any orall of which are formed from either one or a plurality of different electrically. chargeable. ma-

terials in a fiuidstate.

The term fluid asusecl with reference to the electrically chargeablematerial employed in forming the filamentsincludes all states of suchsubstances in which they are capable of flowing, withor without theapplication or removal of heat, airpressure, etc., but

does. not include substances in the gaseous state. 'The term electrically chargeable as applied to the materials from which the filaments are formed includes all materials capable of receiving an electrical charge and/or capable of being transferred from-one location to another by virtue of electrical lines of force. Also, where more than one material is employed in forming a filament or filaments, the term electrically chargeable is intended to include all materials i employedfor a given filament although some may not, per se, be capable of receiving an electrical charge.

An object of the invention is the provision .of an improved apparatus for forming a continuous filament from fiuid, electrically chargeable material by creating an electrical potential difference-between a discharge element and a movable receivingmeans which. are spaced from each other and applying the said material to said discharge element so'thatthesaid material is-carried to the receiving means in the form of a filament by the electrical lines of force between the receiving means and .thedischarge element, a

magnetic field of force being applied between said discharge element-and receiving means to prevent divergence of said lines of force and thereby maintain the cross-section of the formed filament substantially uniform.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the type defined. in the preceding paragraph and in which the said discharge. element is hollow, with air or gas being supplied .therethrough and the said discharge element rotated while the filament is being formed, whereby a tubular filament of uniform diam- .eter and .wall thickness is produced.

A further object of the invention is theiprovision of an improved apparatus for forming a continuous filament from fiuid, electrically chargeable material by creating an electrical potential difference between a discharge element and a moveable receiving means, which are spaced from each' other, andapplying the said material to,-.-the.-di-scharge element so; that the material is carried to the receiving means inlthe form of a filament bythe-electrical lines of force betweenthe receivingdneans andunthedischarge element, thesaidrreceiring means comprising a .7 moving, fiexible bandiupon whichthe formed filalfi,

Y fined inthepreceding paragraph,.with a heating -ment is receivedsandlcarried to apoint of. discharge.

A still .iurther object. ofthe invention is to provide. an improved apparatus; of,=the type. de-

-. means throughtwhich the flexible band o flithe receiving means and the formed fi-lamentpass,

.ivhereb-y the formed; filament is hardened or set by heat.- received .fromsaid band as :well as by .:.l1eat .directly imparted thereto While-.passing through the heating means.

An additional object..ofathe invention is. to

provide, an.-improved.;apparatus of the type defined ineither ofthetwo preceding paragraphs,

with a discharge. elementhaving a comb-like .outer end, wherebythe filament formed is in. the

natureofa band .or ribbon.

The inventionlalso has as an objectthe proyision of an, improved apparatus of 'thevtype, de-

fined in any of the preceding objects and in which filament forming, material issupplied ina manner such that thefilaments may be produced in anyldesired .colorzwithout interrupting. the. operation of. theapparatus.

.Another object of the invention is to, provide an improved apparatus for forming filaments from fluid, electrically chargeable material, as

-L'reierred to in; any ofrthe preceding objects, and

in which the discharge element is. provided with means tosupply bothqliquid material and finely divided. material thereto, whereby the resulting filament is of composite nature.

The invention further resides incertain novel features of ,constructionand combination" and arrangement of parts of the apparatus whereby the distance between thedischarge element and described with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich similar-reference characters represent corresponding parts in the several views and inwhich:

Figql is asideview of the. improved. apparatus with certain parts-broken away andothers shown in-section, the magnetic shield being showndisposed at its inoperativeposition in; this-figure; Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of=the-improved-apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 withthe drivihgbelts and certainother. parts removed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken substantially on the irregular section line 33 of Fig. 1, with certain parts shown in elevation, and illustrating the details of the discharge element and receiving means;

Fig. 3a is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the section indicating line 3a-3a of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of the discharge element and receiving means, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, but showing the magnetic shield in place intermediate the discharge element and receiving means, with the magnetic shield and the heat exchange means in section;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially on the section line 6-6 of Fig. 4, illustrating the means for supporting the magnetic shield, the latter being shown at its operative position in full lines, while its inoperative position is indcated by broken lnes;

Fig. 7 is a View, partially in section and partially in elevation, taken substantially on the line 1-! of Fig. 1, showing the adjustable mounting for the upper band or belt pulley of the receiving means;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View, substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1, showing the adjustable mounting for the lower band or belt pulley of the receiving means and an idler pulley for the formed filament;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view, substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1, showing the electrode employed for precharging the filament forming material which is supplied to the discharge element;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view to a reduced scale of the right-hand portion of Fig. 1, with parts omitted, illustrating the apparatus in an inclined or tilted position;

Fig. 11 is a simplified, schematic wiring diagram of the circuits employed for precharging the filament forming material, and for providing the material transferring potential difference between the discharge element and the receiving means;

Fig. 12 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation similar to Fig. 4, showing a modified form of discharge element employed for producing hollow filaments, the magnetic shield being illustrated in its operative position;

Fig. 13 is a View, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating the discharge element provided with a modified form of material supplying means which is capable of supplying the discharge element with both liquid and finely divided material for producing a composite filament;

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the discharge element and material supplying means shown in Fig. 13 illustrating the tangential connections of the conduits through which the finely divided material is supplied to the chamber adjacent the lower end of the discharge element;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in front elevation, illustrating a modified form of discharge element, the lower end of which is substantially comb-like, for forming a ribbon or band type filament; the means for supplying material to the discharge element represented being similar to, but a modification of, that illustrated in Fig. 13 and the pulleys for the filament receiving belt or band being mounted upon the apparatus with their axes at right angles" to their positions as previously illustrated;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary bottom view of the discharge element and material supply means shown in Fig. 15; and,

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary elevational view of the filament receiving band or belt shown in Fig. 15 and which is used to form ribbons or bands.

As disclosed and claimed in my copending application entitled, Method and Means of Producing Threads or Filaments Electricallly," Serial No. 56,128, filed October 23, 1948, filaments may be formed from electrically chargeable material by supplying such material to a discharge element which is spaced with respect to, and insulated from, a receiving means between which element and means an electrical potential difference is provided so that the electrically chargeable material is carried, in the form of a filament, from the discharge element to the receiving means by the electrical lines of force therebetween. In such operations, the electrically chargeable material preferably is given a precharge, or ionization charge, prior to, or while being applied to, the discharge element thereby facilitating transfer of the material to the receiving means, and hence the formation of the filament. Also, the formed filament is preferably heated after reception upon the receiving means to harden or set the filament, and the receiving means includes a movable part for discharging the formed filament.

The present invention relates to apparatus operating in accordance with the above-mentioned principles but embodying improvements in the apparatus disclosed in the said copending application, which improvements facilitate formation of filaments of the various types disclosed in the said application, filaments of types not possible of formation by the prior apparatus, and/or the formation of all the various types of filaments in selected colors as well as composite filaments formed from more than one material.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the apparatus preferably comprises a base 2| to the top of which is pivoted a horizontally extending plate 22. The base 2| is preferably enclosed as shown and contains the necessary transformers and other electrical apparatus for providing the precharge po' tential for the material, as well as the transfer potential difference between the discharge element and the receiving means, as will hereinafter be described. This electrical apparatus is of commercial construction and is provided with suitable controls located within the base 2|, and/or a housing 23 attached to the base, and operated by knobs 24 to vary the output potentials. This electrical apparatus and the controls thereof are well known and hence need not be here described or illustrated in detail since they, per se, form no part in the present invention. Y

Upstanding from the plate 22 is a vertical standard or column 25 provided at its upper end with a horizontally extending support 26 for the discharge means or assembly 21. This discharge means or assembly, see Figs. 3 and 4, comprises a housing 28, which is preferably formed of insulating material and is slidably supported in an opening through the support 26 to permit vertical adjustment. This adjustment is effected by virtue of the housing 28 being provided with a rack 29 which cooperates with a suitable pinion 30 (see Fig. 5), the latter being rotatably supported upon the member 26 by means of a shaft thus moved vertically.

Adjustably disposed withinthe. housing 28 is fadischarge electrode 33 which, is formed of electric ally' conductive material and has its lower -endpointeda This'electrode is surrounded, along the majority of its length, by a sleeve 34 of insulating material, which is retained. upon the electrode/33 by an integral shoulder, formed upon the latter adjacent its pointed lower end, anda nut 35 screwed upon the threaded upper end of the' electrode 33, thereby facilitating assembly andreplaceability of the parts. The electrode 33 and-its insulating sleeve 34 have a sliding fit in .1 the bore of a' nut 36. This. nut is preferably formed of insulating material and is provided with exterior threads cooperating with the interior'ly threaded upper end of the bore of a sleeve member 31 of insulating material which is "mounted in the upper end of the housing 28 and "extends therefrom. The nut provides a removable closure for the upper end of the sleeve 31 and hence of the housing 28 so that the parts 'may be readily cleaned. The discharge electrode "is held in an adjusted position relative to the sleeve 31 by means of a screw 38 which is threaded through the flange of the nut 36 and engfages the sleeve 34 of the electrode. The elec trodemay be .longitudinallymoved relative to the nut 36 and the housing by loosening the screw 38 and applying a longitudinally directed force fiuidjfilament forming material therethrough which material is supplied to the interior of the. sleeve 31, and hence of the housing 28, through an opening which communicates with a source i fof supply of the material through a conduit or jtube .41. see Fig. 5.

Thelower ends of the electrode 33 and its sleeve 34 are tapered, the portion of the electrode extendingjbeyond the, sleeve 34 terminating in a relatively sharp point. The tapered portions of the, electrode and its sleeve extend outwardly I through anjiopening inthe bottom of the housj ing. 2,8 and cooperate with, that opening to pro- ".Tvideian adjustable valve, regulating the flow of the fiuidfilament forming material from the in- 4 terior of the housing. Adjustment of the size of h the passageway between the discharge element. and the housing 28, and hence the rate of flow of fluid therethrough, is effected by loosening the screw; 38 and .then'longitudinally moving the discharge. element to provide the .desired size pas- .sageway, the element being then clamped in its adjusted. position byflretightening thescrew 38.

Disposed about the lower end of housing 28 is a heat exchange housing 42 which is formed of .insulating material. The housing 42 isprovided with a coil 43, through which aheat exchange medium may be circulated toprovide the desired temperature for the filament forming material within the housing 28. 'The heat exchange medium circulated through the coil 43 may be such as to either raise the temperature of the filament forming'material or to cool the latter, depending upon its characteristics, and is provided for the purpose of securing the desired fluidity of the material. as determined by the'type and/or crosssectional area of the filament to be formed. Ihe

.housing 42 has an .opening through .thedower .endethereof of sufficient size .to. freely accommo- (date the pointedend of v.the discharge electrode 33 so that .the. latter extends belowsaid hous- ....ing.and adjacent a receivingmeans about to be Mdescribed. Thesize of this opening in .thehousing 42 for the passage of the electrode .is sufficient to permit the filament.formingmaterial to freely flow along the discharge element as afilm lo thereon for-.all. adjusted positions of. thesaid electrode relativeto its housing-2B. .-Within the housing 28, intermediate its lower end andthe end of sleeve 31, ispreferably pro- -vided a -precharge or ionization electrode 44. This --may-be a single projection or point mounted w ithin the housing 28and insulated therefrom, but preferably thiselectrode is provided in the form shown in-the drawings and in particular as 3 shown in Fig. 9. As will be seen therein, the electrode 44 comprises ring of-ccnductive material provided with a plurality of spaced in- I 'wardly directed points or projections 45, the ring being connectedwith a terminal 46 which is insulated from the housing 48 and extends therethrough.

I Referring to Fig. 11, it will be seen thatthe precharge terminal 46 is connected by a wire 47 to one output lead of the power supply 23, therei by; providing electrical energy of suitable poten- 30, tjial and polarity to precharge the filament forming material within the housing 23,'it being apparent from this figure that thisprechargingcircult is completed by suitable connections of the I terminal of opposite polarity of the power supply to the receiving means 49, as hereinafter described, and this side of the circuit may be grounded, if desired. The electrode 33 of'thedischarge means is provided with an electrical potential of the same polarity as that upon the 4o,.prechargeelectrode 44, the, potential of the electrical energy supplied to the electrode 33, however, being considerably higher than that employed for the precharge and preferably being in the neighborhood of twice the value of the former. This transfer potential, as it is known, is applied tothe electrode 33 through a wire 48 which is connected withthe electrode 33 as, for example, by means of the nut 35 or the like, this wire 43 being connected with an output lead of the power 5 supply 23. The circuit for the transfer potential is completed by having a receiving means, ,generally designated 49, connected to the termi- ,,nal of opposite polarity of the power supply 23.

. The precharge potential and the transfer potential may constitute diiferent voltages from a single direct current power unit or may be effected by two separate power units, if so desired. The polarity of the precharge potential applied to the electrode 44 and the polarity of the trans 0. fer potential applied to the electrode 33 must be the same, but-this polarity will vary with different types of materials; that is to say, for certain materials the polarity of the potentials applied to the precharge electrode and the discharge elec- ,trode may be positive, the negative side of the power supply-being connected to the receiving means 49. For other types of material, the precharge and transfer potentials may have the a, negative polarity connected to the electrodes 44 7O and 33, while the positive polarity of the power unit 23 is. connected to the receiving means.

The power supply 23 is conventional, one satisfactory type being that which is known asa high voltage. insulation tester manufactured by .the

:Takk Corporation of Newark, Ohio, and identified as their Model 55R, $eria1 52. Such a power supply or pack is connectible with alternating current supply wires LI and L2 and provides at least two different direct current potential differences which are independently variable by operation of the control knobs 24 of the power supply or pack unit 23.

In accordance with this invention, the receiving means 49 comprises a flexible band or belt 50, which is preferably metallic and which is movably supported by a pair of spaced pulleys 5| and 52. These pulleys are rotatably supported upon separate mounting brackets 53 and 54 respectively, which are, in turn, supported upon and adjustable along the verticai standard 25. Thus, the pulley 5| is rotatably supported adjacent the forward end of the bracket 53 by means of a shaft 55 journalled therein and this shaft is provided with a sheave 56 which is rotated, as hereinafter described, to cause rotation of the pulley 49 and driving of the belt 50. The bracket 53 has an opening therethrough intermediate its ends through which the standard or column 25 extends, see Fig. 7. This opening in the bracket has an elongated extension, directed towards the rear end of the bracket, in which a pinion 51 is rotatably mounted by means of a shaft 58 which extends transversely of the bracket and is journalled therein. The pinion 51 is connected for rotation with the shaft 58 and one end of the latter is provided with a hand knob 59 by which the shaft and pinion may be rotated. The pinion 51 is in mesh with a rack 66, provided upon the rear face of the standard 25, so that rotation of the knob 59 moves the bracket 53, and the parts carried thereby, vertically with respect to the standard 2 5. The bracket may be clamped in any adjusted position by means of a clamping screw 6|, the inner end of which is adapted to engage a portion of the standard 25 when the screw 6| is turned in a clockwise direction by means of its knurled head or knob 62.

The lower bracket 54 is constructed in a manner similar to the bracket 53 and has its pulley 52 rotatably mounted adjacent the front of the bracket by means of a shaft 63 journalled in the bracket. The pulley 52 is connected to rotate with a shaft 63 and one end of the latter is provided with a sheave 64, it being observed that the sheave 64 is on the opposite side of the bracket from the position of the sheave 56 supported by the top bracket. The lower bracket 54 is likewise adjustable with respect to the standard 25 by means of a pinion 65 which meshes with the rack 60 and is operated by a knob 66 located at the right-hand side of the bracket 54, as viewed from the front thereof and, hence, oppositely disposed, as compared with the knob 59 supported by the upper bracket. The lower bracket is likewise clamped in an adjusted position by means of a locking screw 6?, which bears upon the support 25 and is actuatable by a knob 68.

The band or belt pulley 5| includes an annular, electrically conductive portion 69 on which the band or belt 50 is supported, see Fig. 3. This conductive portion 69 has a width substantially equal to that of the belt 50 and is intermediate two annular portions 10 and H of insulating material which preferably have outside diameters slightly greater than that of the portion 69 so as to extend above the latter and prevent sidewise travel of the band or belt 50. The annular portions 69, 10 and 1| are connected together and to a disk-like portion 12 which has a peripheral shoulder with which the portion H is engaged. The disk-like .8 portion 12 has an integral hub 13 which is com nected to the shaft 55 for rotation therewith and hence when the shaft is driven, by rotation of its sheave 56, the portions 69, I0 and 1| are rotated thereby driving the belt or band 50.

The annular portion 10 of the pulley 5| rides upon a cylindrical shoulder of a stationary disklike member 14 which is connected to and supported upon a member 15 carried by the bracket 53 within the bifurcated portion in which the pulley 5| is positioned, see also Fig. 3a. The members 14 and 15 are preferably formed of insulating material and the member 15 is provided with an electrical terminal 16 to which is connected a wire 17 leading to an output lead I8 01. the power pack or supply 23, this lead being of opposite polarity to those connected with the wires 41 and 48. The disk-like member 14 is provided with a resilient electrically conductive strip or brush 19 which has a sliding contact on the inner surface of the annular portion 69 of the belt pulley, this brush member being mounted upon the member 14 by a block-like body which is electrically connected to the terminal 16 by a wire or conductive member 8| extending through the members 14 and 15. Preferably a block 15a of insulating material is placed between the lower end of the terminal 16 and the bracket 53 to prevent short circuits.

The anti-friction bearing 82 for that end of the shaft 55 opposite the sheave 56 is retained in place between a cap member 83, which is threaded into the bracket 53, and an integral shoulder on the shaft 55. Intermediate the bearing 82 and the disk-like member 14, the shaft 55 has a flanged bushing 820, connected thereto, thereduced diameter portion of which is rotatable within the central opening of the member 14. This construction prevents endwise movement of the shaft and pulley and also permits ready removal of the bearing and the shaft 55 after the pulley 5| and sheave 56 have been unclamped. This facilitates the use of pulleys 5| of different widths to accommodate belts or bands 50 of suitable widths for formation of filaments of different sizes and/or types, as will hereinafter appear. The several pulleys of different sizes are all constructed alike, except that the width of the annular portion 69 is varied in accordance with the size of the belt or band employed thereith. It will be observed that the belt or band 50 is preferably grooved or notched slightly intermediate its edges which notch or groove extends longitudinally therealong to facilitate guiding and supporting of the filament as formed.

The electrical connection of the transfer potential to the belt is preferably effected by connecting a wire 84 with the power pack 23 so as to have a potential opposite to that applied to the discharge element 33. In the illustrated embodiment, the wire 84 is connected to the same output lead 18 as that employed for the wire 11, which constitutes the other pole of the precharge potential, and this lead is shown grounded, although this is not necessary to the operation. The wire 84 is secured to a connecting strip or lug 85, which is apertured and has a securing screw plug 86 passing therethrough and threaded into a block of insulating material 81 carried by the standard 25. The screw plug 86 is longitudinally bored and counterbored and provided with a plunger 88 having a reduced diameter portion extending through the bore in the upper end of the screw plug 86 and riding upon the portion 69 so as to constitute an electrical contact'or brush therefore The plunger or contact'member 88 is maintained in engagement pulley 5I except that'the portion correspondingto the member I4 is connected to rotate with the shaft 63 since there is nobrush-like electrical connection in the interior of the lower-pulley.

The belt 50 is continuously driven during normal operation of the apparatus by means of an electrical motor 89,which has its armature shaft connected through a gear reduction-unit to a sheave 9I. This sheave BI is provided with a V-belt, or the like,:92 which also passes about the inner one of a-pair of integral. sheaves 03, see Figs-2 and 3, connected to a shaft 04. The outer integral of the sheaves 93 is-connected-by a V- belt, orthe like, '05 to the sheave 64 which is provided on the shaft 63 for driving the lower pulley 52 for the filament supporting belt or band 50. The shaft '94 also has a second pair of integral sheaves 06-connected thereto the inner 'of which is connected by a V-belt, or the like, 91 to drive the sheave56 for rotation of the upper pulley I of the filament supportingbelt- 50, The outer of the sheaves 96 is connected by a V-belt 08 to a sheave 99 mounted upon a shaft I00 which is supported for rotation in upstand ingbrackets or standards IOI provided on the plate or table 22-. The shaft "I00 hasa filament gripping-roller I02 connected thereon for rotation therewith and cooperating with this roller,

and frictionally rotated'thereby, is a secondfilament gripping roller I03 which is rotatably" lower end permitting passage of the'formed filament F, and preferablythe bracket 54 is provided to the rear' thereof with an idler I05 to guide the'formed filament in its path from the belt 50' to the friction gripping-rollers-I02 and I03. "After the filament passes-betweenthe-latter rollers, it is then wound upon' a suitable bobbin or bobbins carried by a winding mechanism, not shown.

In order to effect adjustment of thetensionof the driVing belt 02, the'motor 89is mountedupon a bracket-or support I I5, which is horizontally adjustably supported'upon a pairof horizontallye'xtending bars I I6, the'latter be ing in turnsupported by pairs of vertically extending members II'IandI I8 attached to the plate 22. The motor'bracket II5 hasa downwardly depending portion "I I 0 which" is" provided I with a threaded openingactin'g as a nut for a screw i20 The screw" I20 is 'journalled forrota= tion, but is held from'longitudinal movement;

by a plateIZI which extends transversely of and interconnects the pairof vertical supports Ill. The screw I20 is provided with ahead or knob 22 to facilitate rotation of thescrew and,

hence, longitudinal movement of the motor mounting bracket I I5. The shaft-=94, which "supports-the sheaves 9-3: and 96, is journalled in the horizontally extending bars H5 1 and extends:-

through' slotted-openings 123- in the motor bracket H5. The construction -just described is such that as the motor support -I I5 is moved 10 to theright, as viewed in Fig. 1, the belt 92 is slackened somewhat so that it may be easily placed and/or'removed. When the support H5 is moved in the opposite direction, the belt 92 is tightened. If desired, conventional means may also be, provided to permit adjustment of the tension of the belts 95, 9! and 00. The belts 05 and 91 may be placed and/or removed and their tensions adjusted by loosening the lock 7 screws BI and 61 and turning the knobs59 and 66, which operation likewise adjusts the tension in the'band or belt 50.

The forwardly extending arms or bracket members-I I6 areconnected with the vertically extending support or standard 25, thus affording-rigidity to theseveral vertical supporting members, and forward of the standard the members H0 support a heating means I24 which surrounds 'a portion of the band or belt 50 and,

hence, of the filament F carried thereby. This heating means I24 may be of any suitabletype, an electrical resistance type being illustrated,

and is provided for the purpose of heating-the formed filament sufficiently to set or harden the latter. In addition to directly heatin thefilamentas it passes through the heater, the filament} is heated and at least-partially set as it initially engages the belt 50 by virtue of the heat imparted thereto by the belt itself.- This is due to the fact-that the beltor band 50 is also heated as itpasses through the heater I24 ing'material is supplied to the'conduit 4! and; t hence to the discharge element,- from one or a plurality of containers or jars, such-as I25; I26, I21 and 128; which aresupported upon ashelf ortable'I20 at the upper end-of the' vertical Each -of these members or standards I I1, I I8. jars or containers is provided with a sealed cover Itdthroughwhich extend a pair of pipes-in sealed relationship, one of the pipes extending downwardly to a point adjacent the bottom of the-container and the other of the pipeshaving- -its lower-end disposed above the normal- These upper level of the'material in the jar. shorter pipes --for the several jars are designated I3I, I32, I33 and I34, -respectively,and each has one end thereof connected to a manifold I35, with which a source of air or other fluid-underpressureis connected by a conduit I 36; 'The longer pipes or tubes for eachofthe containers are connected with pipes'or conduits designated I31, I38,--I39 -and I40, -respectively.- The manifold-I is provided with individually manually operable valves I4I, I42, I43 and I44, 1 which respectively control the application of air or other-'fiuid-under pressure through the pipes" I3I, I32,-I33 and I34 to the associated container.

It will-beunderstood that application of air pressure to a container or containers will force thefilament forming material therein to flow through its outlet pipes, I3'II40, respectively. Each of these latterpipes is likewise provided with independently manually operable valves I45, I46, I4! and I40,'which are preferably located in the manifold I49 to which thepipes or conduits I3l-I40 are connected. It will .be

observed thatthe valves I45 and I48 are con--- are likewise connected by a suitable passageway II in the manifold I49. The passageways I50 and I5I are united into a common passageway I52, which is in communication with the pipe or conduit M for supplying the fluid filament forming material to the discharge electrode. Hence, the flow of filament forming material from the containers or jars may be individually controlled and the material from the various jars may be utilized in any desired proportions.

Let it be assumed that only the material in the container or jar I25 is to be supplied to the housing 28 of the discharge element or member. The valve I4I will be opened to permit supply of air or fluid under pressure to the container I25 and likewise the valve I45 will be opened to allow flow of the liquid through the pipe or conduit I31. The valves I42, I43, I44 and I46, I41 and I48 will, however, be closed. As the fluid pressure is exerted upon the level of the liquid in the container I25, through the pipe I3I, the material flows therefrom and through the passageways I50 and I52 and conduit 4I into the housing 28, from which it is conducted and formed into a filament, as is hereinafter described. As mentioned above, all of the other valves are closed at this time so that only the material in the container I25 is supplied. If all of the other containers contain a similar type of material, they may be selectively placed in communication with the conduit II in any desired sequence by operation of their associated valves. As each container is placed in communication with the conduit M, the previously used container is removed from communication therewith by the closing of its associated valves. Normally, in such an operation, only one container at a time will be in communication with the conduit 4I so that the unused containers may be refilled and positioned for operation without interfering with the operation of the apparatus so that a continuous filament may be formed.

The means which is disclosed for supplying the filament forming material may also be employed for forming filaments of different colors without interrupting the operation of the apparatus. For example, if the filament forming material in the container I25 be one color and that in each of the other containers I26, I21

and I 28 be of diiferent colors, sequential operation of the valves associated with the containers will produce a single continuous filament having sequential portions of different color, the color of each portion of the filament corresponding with the color of the material in the container which was utilized at that time. By utilizing more than one container at a time, as by manipulating the associated valves jointly instead of sequentially, threads of intermediate or different colors may be produced in various shades. For example, by employing primary colors and black in the several containers, a wide variety of colored filaments may be formed by adjusting the degree of opening of the valves, such as MI and I45, of the container or containers employed at a given time.

Thus, if the material in the containers I25 and I26 be yellow and blue, respectively, and the valves associated with container I25 be opened to provide approximately 40% of the material used while the valves associated with the container I26 are opened to provide approximately 60% of the material, one type of green will be produced. By changing the relative amounts of opening of the valves associated with the con- 12 tainers I25 and I26 from the values stated, greens of other hues will result. In a similar manner, other colors of desired shade may be produced, since, if desired, all of the containers or jars may simultaneously supply material to the conduit 4|.

In operation of the machine, the jars or containers I25, I26, I21 and I28 are provided with filament forming material of suitable type and the discharge element or electrode 33 is longitudinally adjusted to provide a desired extent of valve opening adjacent its pointed end, the electrode being clamped at its adjusted position by means of screw 38. The discharge electrode and its housing are then vertically adjusted by operation of the knob 32 to provide the desired extent of sepa ration between the end of the discharge electrode 33 and the belt 50 of the receiving means 48, the extent of separation being determined by the type of material employed, by the cross-sectional area desired for the filament, and/or by the potentials to be employed in effecting the transfer. The motor 89 is then placed in operation, thus driving the filament receiving band or belt 59 and the filament gripping rollers Hi2 and I03. The heater I24 is also energized, thereby heating the belt as it moves therethrough. The proper ones of the valves I4I--I44 and I-I4B are operated to effect supply of the filament forming material from the particular countainer or containers to be utilized, and the precharge circult, as well as the transfer circuit, are energized. Hence, a transfer potential is created between the electrode 33 and the metallic parts of the receiving means 49, which parts comprise the annular electrode 69 and the belt 50, if the latter be of metal. -Also, a precharge potential is applied to the electrode 44, the other pole of this circuit being connected to the receiving means.

With the apparatus thus conditioned, filament forming material is supplied to the housing 28 Where it receives an electrical charge from the electrode 44 and flows then along the discharge element as a film thereon. The rate of flow of the material over the discharge element is determined by the adjusted amount of the valve opening at the lower end of the housing, and by the use of a heat exchange means in the coil 43 surrounding the lower end of the electrode. The rate of flow of the filament forming material over the discharge electrode is insuificient to cause the material to drop from the electrode by gravity, the material being held thereon by surface tension. However, the transfer potential difference between the discharge electrode and the receiving means results in lines of force extending therebetween, which effect the transfer of a portion of the filament forming material in the form of fine filament or thread F. This filament engages the moving belt so as to be supported and carried thereby, the filament being at least partially hardened or set by the heat imparted thereto by the belt which was heated in its previous journey through the heater I24. The filament F thus formed is carried by the belt 5%} through the heater I24, where it is further hardened or set, and the end of the formed filament is fed or threaded through an opening in the standard or column 25 and about the idler I05 carried by the bracket 54, the apparatus being slowed or stopped during the initial setup to facilitate thus handling the filament. The filament is passed from the idler I05 through the gripping rollers I 02 and I03, and the end of said filament is then wound upon a suitable winding mechanism, not shown. The machine may now be operated at full speed and will form a continuous filament or thread F, the jars I25, etc., being replaced, if necessary, to provide a continuous supply of material; and/or more than one pair of valves, such as MI, I45 are operated when colored filaments are desired. During this high-speed operation, any irregularity in takeup of the thread or filament F upon the winding apparatus, which would normally place tension upon the thread or filament, tending to stretch or break the latter or pull it apart, is prevented by the friction gripping rollers I82 and I03, which prevent transmission of such a tension therebeyond to the filament as it is being formed. In addition to, or in place of, the guide pulley or idler H85, other pulleys or idlers may be utilized to suitably support and guide the filament F.

In some instances, it may be desirable, especially where high potentials maybe employed for efiecting transfer of the material in forming the filament, to employ a magnetic field interme diate the discharge element and receiving means to thereby prevent divergence of the lines of force therebetween so that the diameter of the filament will be maintained within close limits. This maybe effected in the present machine, when desired, by means of a suitable cylindrical electromagnet I53, having a central opening therethrough. This electromagnet is supported on the outer end of an arm 558, the inner end or" which is pivotally supported between spaced ears I55 and I56 which are mounted upon the vertical column or standard 25. The electromagnet I53 is adapted to be swung to and from a position intermediate the discharge element and. receiving means and is retained in its inoperative position by a locking screw I51, see Fig. 6. When it is desired to employ the magnet I53, the discharge assembly Zl is elevated by operation of the knob 32 to allow sufiicient clearance for positioning of the magnet I53 and, if necessary, the bracket 53 is also lowered to facilitate this positioning. When the electromagnet I53 is properly positioned, the bracket 53, if lowered, may be elevated slightly to bring the pulley I adjacent the lower surface of the electromagnet and the discharge element assembly 21 is lowered, by the operation of its knob 32, to position the pointed lower end of the electrode 33 in the upper end of the central opening through the electromagnet 53. This electromagnet is so constructed that, when provided. with electrical current from a suitable source of supply, which may be a portion of the power pack 23, a magnetic field extends through the electromagnet and surrounds the lines of force between the discharge electrode and receiving means so that the said lines of force are prevented from radial divergence and are constrained to move in substantially straight lines.

As mentioned in the earlier part of this description, the filament forming apparatus is mounted upon a plate or member 22, which is pivoted upon the supporting base or framework 2I. This is for the purpose of enabling the apparatus to be tilted from the vertical position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, so that the band or belt 58 may provide a supporting surface for the formed thread or filament thereon, the latter being held in engagement with the belt by the force of gravity. To effect this tilting, the base 2! is provided adjacent either side and towards the front thereof with threaded bosses I58 through which adjusting screws I59 are adapted to 'be' threaded to engage the ends of the latter with the lower side of the table or plate 22. Consequently, by turning the adjusting screws I59 so as to thread them through the bosses I58, the table 22 may be tilted thereby tilting the entire apparatus mounted thereon, see Fig. 10. While the apparatus has been shown as mounted in a vertical position and provision has been made for tilting the latter with respect to the vertical, it will be apparent that the belt 50 and the discharge element may be disposed substantially horizontally if desired and the apparatus tilted with respect to such horizontal position. Also, in some instances, it may be desirable to have the plane of the discharge electrode extend at an angle with respect to the belt 50, especially when the latter is in a horizontal position, and all such changes in the apparatus are envisioned as coming within the scope of the invention.

Figure 12 illustrates a different form of discharge element or means which is employed with the apparatus previously described when it is desired to form a hollow or tubular filament. When employing the apparatus for forming -a filament of this type, the belt 50, as shown in Figs. 1 through 10, is replaced by a somewhat Wider belt 58a and which preferably has a groove of suitable width to accommodate and support the formed filament. The upper belt pulley 5I will also have been replaced by a similar pulley 5Ia of sufiicient width to accommodate the wider belt 58a and the lower belt pulley 52 will likewise be replaced. The discharge means employs the same housing 28, sleeve 21, nut 36, screw 38 and precharge electrode 44 as previously described. Likewise, a housing 42, with a heat exchange coil 43, is preferably provided adjacent the lower end of the housing 28 and of the discharge electrode and the assembly is supported in the same manner as is shown in Fig. 3. Also, an electromagnet I53 is preferably employed intermediate the discharge electrode and the receiving means to properly create a magnetic field and thereby prevent divergence of the lines of force and maintain the latter in substantially straight lines.

The discharge electrode 33a dliffers from the electrode 33, however, in that the electrode 33a is hollow and is rotatably supported in a stationary insulating sleeve 34a by bearing bushings I88 and IIiI. The upper portion of the discharge electrode 33a, which extends above the sleeve 34a, has a pulley 162 of insulating material connected thereon for effecting rotation of the element 33a, the pulley and electrode being driven :by a suitable belt I63, which is in turn driven by any suitable means, as, for example, by a pulley on the motor 89. The upper end of the electrode 33a is provided with an integral flange portion I84 which is rotatable in a stationary housing member I85, there being a stationary air supply member I88 threaded into the stationary member I85 to prevent axial displacement of the electrode 33a with respect thereto. Suitable packing means I85a may be interposed between the flange I84 of the electrode and the housing mem ber I65 to prevent leakage of air therebetween. The member I86 has a central opening therethrough in communication with the central opening through the electrode 33a to enable fluid, such as air under pressure, to pass therethrough and discharge from the lower end of the member 33a. By maintaining a constant flow of air or other fluid through the electrode at a substandeny constant pressure, the filament which is formed between the discharge element and the: receiving means will be hollow, since the sidewall thereof is prevented from collapsing by the fluid pressure acting through the filament. Electrical connection to the electrode 33a is effected by means of a suitable threaded portion I611, provided on the member I65, so that the transfer potential may be applied to the electrode 33a by means of attaching wire 48 to the threaded portion I61 with the aid of a suitable nut. The filamenti forming material is supplied to the interior of the housing 28 through an opening 40, which is in commncation with the pipe or conduit lI leading to the jars containing the material, as previously described and the apparatus is in other respects the same as that previously described.

The operation of a filament forming apparatus employing the discharge means, illustrated in Fig. 12, is substantially the same as that described with respect to Figs. 1 through 11, and, hence, need not be repeated, it being sufiicient to note that the provision of the hollow rotating electrode 33a, with the supply of air or other fluid under pressure therethrough, causes the resulting filament to be hollow. The wall thickness of this hollow filament or tube is maintained within close tolerance by means of the magnetic field provided by the electromagnet I53, which constrains the lines of force between the discharge electrode and the receiving means to act in straight lines. In some instances, however, this electromagnet may be moved to its inoperative position and tubes or hollow filaments may be formed without its aid.

Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate a modification which permits the formation of composite filaments from both liquid and finely divided solid material, such as lint, fibers, and powdered substances of various types. As shown in Fig. 13, the discharge electrode 33, its insulating sleeve 34, and the housing 28 and sleeve 31 surrounding them are all constructed in the same manner as shown and described with respect to Fig, 3, and, hence, bear the same reference numerals. Likewise, the housing 28 has an opening at through which the filament forming material is supplied, as previously described, and this housing also preferably has a precharge electrode 44. However, the housing 42 shown in Figs. 1 to 4, is replaced by a housing 65, which surrounds the lower end of the housing 28 nd has a lower opening through which the outer end of the discharge elec trode 33 projects. The housing I69 provides an annular chamber about the discharge electrode to which the powdered or finely divided material is supplied in a manner providing a swirling action thereof about the electrode, so that the said material comes into thorough contact with the liquid material previously supplied thereto and adheres thereon. The depositing of the finely divided material upon the electrode is probably assisted in part by the electrostatic field associated with the discharge element and also pos- Sibly by the precharge electrostatic field. In any event, both the liquid and the powdered or finely divided materials are transferred from the discharge electrode 33 to the receiving means 48 as a single, composite filament, the receiving means and other elements of the apparatus be ing the same as previously described and, hence, are not further illustrated.

In the form of the device illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14 a heat exchange coil, similar to 43, may

be employed in the housing I 69 adjacent the upper end of the latter to facilitate the flow of the liquid material. Likewise, a magnetic field, such as that provided by the electromagnet I53, may be employed between the discharge electrode and the receiving means, as in the forms of the apparatus previously described, this electromagnet being illustrated in its inoperative position in Fig. 13. Since the heat exchange coil is the same and functions in the same manner as in the form of the apparatus illustrated in- Figs. 1 through 10, illustration and detailed description thereon is not deemed necessary. It will also be understood, that by employing a discharge electrode of the type illustrated in Fig. 12 in place of the element 33, and by employing a: correspondingly wider belt on the receiving means, filaments of tubular or hollow form may be produced of composite materials.

The supplying of the powdered or other finely divided material to the housing m9 is preferably effected by an aspirating action, produced by connecting a source of fluid under pressure to the conduits I16 and HI, respectively, which are connected with the integral, tangentially extending ducts or pipes I12 and I13 of the housing I69. Each of the ducts or pipes I12 and I13 is provided, adjacent its connection with the wall of the housing I68, with a nozzle member, such as 114, thereby providing a restricted orifice, through which air or other fluid under pressure flows with increased velocity, and being tangentially disposed, produces a swirling action about the discharge electrode. The velocity of the fiow of air or other fluid through the pipes or ducts E12 and I13, is utilized to transport the finely divided material by providing branch connections or ducts I15 and I16 for the ducts I12 I13 respectively, intermediate the ends of the latter. The outer ends of the branch connections I15 and I16 are each surrounded by a container or tank I11 and I18, which are closed and sealed by removable tops I19 and I80, respectively. The tanks I11 and I18 may be deemed stir-up tanks or containers since their purpose is to thoroughly agitate orstir the finely divided material and facilitate its movement therefrom by the aspirating efiect of the air or fluid under pressure moving past the lower ends of the branch ducts I15 and I16.

The powdered or other finely divided material is supplied into each of the stir-up tanks I11 and I18, through pipes or conduits I81 and I82, extending through the tops or caps I19 and I80, respectively. The finely divided material, which may be substantially in the form of dust, is preferably moved through these pipes or conduits II and I82 by fluid, such as air, under pressure, so that the material intermixed with air fiows like a fluid into the tanks I11 and I18 at the top and adjacent the side wall, thereof, with the result that a stirring or agitating action is effected therein. Each of the branch ducts or pipes I 15 and I 16 extends upwardly within its corresponding tank to a point adjacentthe top thereof so that the removal of the material therefrom is adjacent the top or cap, thereby fur ther insuring complete agitating or stirring of the material within the tanks. The rate of withdrawal of the finely divided or powdered material may be regulated either by means of valves, such as I83 and I84, cooperating with the upper ends of the associated ducts or pipes I15 ,a-nd I16, or by' regulating the rate of flow of the fluid under pressure through the conduits I12 and I13 by operation of valves I85 and I86 interposed therein. Theopera'tion of this form of device for supplying materials of diverse nature in fluid form to thereby produce a composite filament will be readily apparent from the previous detailed description of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 through 11 and, hence, need not be repeated. v 7

Figs. 15, 16 and 17 illustrate an additional modification which adapts the apparatus for the production of relatively wide, flat filaments such In this form of the ap-" as ribbons or the like. paratus the discharge electrode comprises a conductive portion 33b, substantially like the electrode 33 shown in Fig. 3, and is surrounded by an insulating sleeve 34b, the electrode being supported in a housing 28 and sleeve 31 as previous extending fingers or teeth I81 supported within the opening thus provided. These teeth I81 are substantially needle-like in shape and are secured by welding or soldering in parallel'relationship so as to have somewhat the appearance of a comb. The needle-like projections or teeth I81 are laterally aligned and have their lower ends terminating in substantially the same plane so that, while the filament forming material moves therefrom in separate streams, these streams unite closely adjacent the. lower ends of the projections or teeth into a single ribbon or band.

The discharge electrode just described cooper-v ates with a receiving means, comprises a belt 501) similar to the belt 56 previously described except that the belt is wider and hasa groove of suitable width and configuration for supporting the ribbon-like filament formed, see Fig. 1'7. Due to the width of the belt 50b and since the plane of the projections or teeth I81 must be at right angles to the path of travel of the belt, the'latter has been shown as mounted upon the standard or column 25 to travel in a path'disposed at right angles with respect to the path of the belt 50.

This may be efiected by means of suitable brackets and does not alter the operation of the device from that described and hence the operation of an apparatus employing this type of discharge electrode need not be repeated.

The modification illustrated in Figs; and 16 is capable of supplying both liquid and finely divided solid material to the discharge electrode to produce a composite filament. Therefore, the housing 28 is provided with a housing I69a similar to the housing I69 except that the ducts or pipes HM and H311 of the housing I69a are disposed substantially radially and the nozzles I'I4 a arev disposed on either side of the discharge electrode and have substantially the same width as that of the comb-like portion of the latter. The nozzles II Ia are, of course, restricted so that the finely divided material is moved to the discharge electrode as previously described with respect to Fig. 13. In the instant form of the apparatus, how-1 ever, there is no swirling action of the finely divided material in the housing I69a, the ma terial being now directly blown upon the electrode.

It will be readily understood that a magnetic field, such as provided by an electromagnet' I53, may be employed with the forms -ofthe apparatus shown in Figs. 13 to 16, this feature and other previously illustrated which are like those shown in Figs. 1 through 11 having been omitted simply to simplify the disclosure of the parts which are different. It will also be understood that, by simply terminating the supply of the finely divided material, as by closing the valves such-as I85, I36 and/or I83, I84, the'embodiments shown in Figs. 13 to 16 will produce filaments from liquid material only.

While the invention has been illustrated and described inconsiderable detail as embodied in different forms of apparatus, it will be apparent that numerous changes and alterations may be made in the specific details illustrated and described without departing from the spirit of the invention;'and, hence, the several forms of apparatus herein illustrated and described are to be considered only as illustrative of practical embodiments of the invention and not as limitations thereon.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. An apparatus for producing a continuous filament from electrically chargeable material in fluid state comprising, a stationary discharge element, a receiving means including a rotating electrode aligned with but spaced from said discharge element and insulated therefrom, means in communication with the exterior of said discharge element 'for supplying the filament forming material to the exterior surface thereof to flow therealong as a film, a source of high potential direct current electrical energy, and conductive means respectively connecting said discharge element and said electrode to terminals of opposite polarity of said source of electrical energy thereby creating a material transferring electrical potential difference between said stationary discharge element and said rotating electrode whereby the said material film on the exterior of thedischarge element migrates from the said element to said electrode in a continuous and individual filamentary form under influence of the electrical lines of force therebetween and the formed continuous and individual filament is removed from the space between said element and electrode by rotation of the latter.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further comprising heat exchange means cooperating with said discharge element and a portion of the said means for supplying fluid material to the exterior of said element to thereby regulate the consistency of the fluid filament forming material as it is applied as a film to the exterior of tion with said discharge element for supplying the filament forming material thereto, an electrical circuit interconnecting said discharge element and receiving means with a source of high potential electrical energy, thereby producing an electrical potential difference between said elementand receiving means causing the said material to migrate from the element to the said member in filamentary form, means moving said member relative to' said discharge element to thereby deliver the formed filament from said member, and means for creating a magnetic field between said discharge element and movable member with the polarity of said field directed to substantially prevent divergence of the electrical lines of force between said element and member.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim '3 and further comprising means for electrically precharging the said filament forming'inaterial before it is subjected to said potential diiference between said discharge element and receiving means.

5. An apparatus for producing a continuous filament from electrically chargeable material in fluid state comprising, a stationary discharge element, a receiving means including a flexible band and a means supporting said band for movement adjacent an end of said discharge element and spaced therefrom, means in communication with the exterior of said discharge element for supplying the filament forming material to the exterior surface thereof to flow as a film therealong to said end thereof, an electrical circuit interconnecting said discharge element and receiving means with a source of high potential electrical energy, thereby producing an electrical potential difference between said element and receiving means causing the film of said material to migrate from the said end of the discharge element to the said band in a continuous and individual filamentary form, and means for moving said band relative to said discharge element to thereby deliver the formed continuous and individual filament from said receiving means.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim and further comprising means for electrically precharging the said filament forming material before it is subjected to said potential diiference between said discharge element and receiving means, said precharging means including a second electrical circuit separate from and independent of the first mentioned electrical circuit.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 and wherein said discharge element has the end thereof adjacent said receiving means provided with a plurality of substantially parallel projections the lower ends of which are substantiallycoplanar whereby the film flowing along the exterior surface of the element flows over the exterior of said projections and when migrated therefrom by the electrical potential difference between the discharge element and receiving means the filament produced is in the nature or a band or ribbon.

8. An apparatus as. defined in claim 5 and wherein the said band is metallic and is electrically connected in said electrical circuit thereby constituting an electrode cooperating with said discharge element for effecting the said. continuous and individual filamentary migration of the film of material from the said end of thed-ischarge element.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 and further comprising heat exchange means cooperating with said discharge element and a portion of the said means for supplying fiuid material to the exterior of said element to thereby regulate the consistency of the fluid filament forming material as it is applied as a film to the exterior of said element.

10. An apparatus for producing a continuous filament from electrically chargeable material .in a fluid state comprising, a stationary discharge element, a receiving means including a flexible band and a means supporting said band for move ment adjacent an end of said discharge element and spaced therefrom, means in communication with the exterior of said discharge element for supplying the filament forming material, to the exterior surface thereof to flow therealong as a film to said end of the element. an electrical cir- 2'0 cui't interconnecting said discharge element and receiving means with a source of high potential electrical energy, thereby producing an electrical potential difference between said element and receiving means causing the said film of the material to migrate from the end of the discharge element to the said band in a continuous and individual filamentary form, means heating said band whereby solidification of the said migrated material into its continuous and individual filamentary form is facilitated by the heat imparted thereto, and means for moving said hand relative to said discharge element to thereby deliver the formed filament from said receiving means.

11. An apparatus os defined in claim it and wherein the said band is metallic and carries the formed continuous and individual through said heating means so that both the band and the continuous and individual filament are heated.

12. An apparatus for producing a continuous filament from electrically chargeable material in fluid state comprising, a discharge element, a receiving means including a flexible band and means supporting said band for movement adjacent an end of said discharge element and spaced therefrom, a means in communication with said discharge element for supplying the filament forming material thereto, an electrical circuit interconnecting said discharge element and receiving means with a source of high potential electrical energy thereby producing an electrical potential difierence between the said element and receiving means causing the said material to migrate from the former to the latter in filamentary form, means for creating a magnetic field between said discharge element and said receiving means with the polarity of said field directed to substantially prevent divergenceof the electrical lines of force between said element and receiving means, and means moving said band relative to said discharge element to thereby deliver the formed filament from said receiving means.

13. In an apparatus for producing a composite continuous filament, a housing having an opening means supplying fluid filament forming material to said housing, a discharge element supported in said housing and extending through said opening with sufiicient clearance to permit flow of said material as a relatively thin film over the portion of said, element extending from the housing, and means supplying finely divided material to said discharge element intermediate its outer end a and the said housing.

14. An apparatus, of the type defined in claim 13 and wherein said means supplying finely divided material tosaid discharge element includes a second housing defining a substantially annular chamber about the said portion of said dis.- charge element intermediate its outer end and the first-mentioned housing, and conduit means through which the said finely divided material is introduced into said chamber, the said conduit means being connected to said chamber so as to cause the finely divided material to be deposited upon the fluid carried by the said discharge element;

'15. An apparatus of the type defined in claim 14 and in which the said conduit means are con nected tangentially to said chamber thereby providing aswirling motion of the finely divided n1aterial about the said discharge element.

16. The combination as defined in claim 13 and in which the said means for supplying finely filament divided material comprises a second housing surrounding the said portion of the discharge element intermediate its outer end and the firstmentioned housing, a conduit connecting said second housing with a source of fluid under pressure, and means connecting said conduit intermediate its ends with a source of finely divided material, the last-mentioned means including a tank connected to said conduit in a manner such that the flow of fiuid. through the conduit produces an aspirating effect insaid tank for the withdrawal of material therefrom, and valve means for adjusting the rate of Withdrawal of said finely divided material from said tank.

17. An apparatus for producing a composite continuous filament from electrically chargeable material in a fluid state and finely divided material comprising, a discharge element, a movable receiving member spaced from said discharge element and electrically insulated therefrom, means in communication with the exterior of said discharge element for supplying fluid filament forming material as a film to the exterior surface of the element, means in communication with-the exterior of said discharge element for supplying finely divided material to said film on the exterior surface of the element, an electrical circuit-interconnecting said discharge element and receiving member with a source of high potential electrical energy thereby producing an electrical potential difference between said element and member causing the said film and finely divided material to migrate from the element to the mem her as a single composite continuous filameniyand a means moving said receiving member relative to said discharge element thereby-delivering the formed filament from said receiving member.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 and wherein the said receiving member is a flexible metallic band.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 1'7 and further comprising means for electrically precharging the fluid filament forming material before it is subjected to said potential difference between said discharge element and receiving member said precharging means including a second electrical circuit separate from and independent of the first mentioned electric circuit.

20. An apparatus for producing a composite continuous filament from electrically chargeable material in a fluid state and finely divided material comprising a discharge element, a movable receiving member spaced from said discharge element and electrically insulated therefrom, means in communication with said discharge element for supplying fluid filament forming material'thereto, means in communication with said discharge element for supplying finely divided material thereto, an electrical circuit interconnecting said discharge element and receiving member with a source of high potential electrical energy thereby producing an electrical potential difference between said element and member causing the said materials to migrate from the element to the member as a single composite filament, means creating a magnetic field between said discharge element and receiving member with the polarity of said field directed to substantially prevent divergence of the electrical lines of force between said element and member, and means moving said receiving member relative to said discharge element thereby delivering the formed filament'fro'm said receiving member.

21. An apparatus for producing a continuous filament from electrically chargeable material in fluid state comprising a hollow rotatable discharge element, a movable receiving member spaced from said discharge element and electrioally insulated therefrom, means in communication with the exterior of said discharge element for supplying the filament forming material thereto, means for conducting fiuid under pressure to the interior of said discharge element, an electrical circuit interconnecting said discharge element and receiving member with a source of high potential electrical energy thereby producing an electrical potential difference between said element and member so that the material migrates from the element to the member in hollow filamentary form, means creating a magnetic field between said discharge element and receiving member withthe polarity of said field directed to substantially prevent divergence of the electrical lines of force between said element and member, and means moving said receiving member relative to said discharge element to thereby deliver the formed filament from said receiving member.

22. An apparatus for producing a continuous filament from electrically chargeable material in fluid state comprising a hollow rotatable discharge element, a receiving means including a flexible band and a means supporting said band for movement adjacent an end of said discharge element and spaced therefrom, means in communication with the exterior of said discharge element for supplying the filament forming ma terial thereto, means for conducting a fluid under pressure to the interior of said hollow element, an electrical circuit interconnecting said discharge element and receiving means with a source of high potential electrical energy thereby producing an electrical potential difference between said element and receiving means causing the said material to migrate from the discharge element to the receiving means in a hollow filamentary form, and means moving said band relative to said discharge element to thereby deliver the formed filament from said receiving 7 means.

23. A combination as defined in claim 22 and further comprising means cooperating with said bandto heat the latter and the filament carried thereby.

24. A combination as defined in claim 22 an further comprising means for prducing a magnetic field between said discharge element and said receiving means with the polarity of said field directed to substantially prevent divergence of the electrical lines of force between said element and receiving means.

25. An apparatus for producing a continuous filament from electrically chargeable material in fluid state comprising, a discharge element, a receiving means including a movable member spaced from said discharge element and electrically insulated therefrom, means for supplying the filament forming material to the exterior of said element to flow therealong as a film and including a plurality of containers for said material and means for selectively connecting one or more of said containers with said discharge element to supply material to said element, an electrical circuit interconnecting said discharge element and receiving means with a source of high potential electrical energy thereby producing an electrical potential difference between said element and receiving means causing the film of said material to migrate from the exterior of the element to the said member in a continuone and individual filamentary form, and means moving said member relative to said discharge element to thereby deliver the formed filament from said member.

26. An apparatus as defined inv claim 25 and wherein the said means for selectively connecting one or more of said material containers with the exterior of said discharge element include valve means intermediate each of said containers and said discharge element.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 25 and wherein the said containers are each substantially air-tight and are each provided with a connection for the application of fluid pressure thereto, and the means for selectively connecting one or more of said containers with the exterior of said discharge element includes separate discharge conduits for said containers and valve means operatively associated with each of said conduits to control the flow of filament forming material M,

therethrough.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 25 and wherein the said containers are each substantially air-tight and are each provided with a con nection for the application of fiuid pressure thereto, and the means for selectively connecting one or more of said containers with the exterior of said discharge element include separate discharge conduits for said containers, valve means operatively associated with each of said connections, and valve means operatively ciated with each of said conduits, whereby the container or containers supplying the filament forming material may be readily selected and the rate of supply therefrom regulated.

29. An apparatus for producing a continuous filament from electrically chargeable material in fluid state comprising, a discharge element, a receiving means including a movable member spaced from said discharge element and electrically insulated therefrom, means in communication with said discharge element for supplying the filament forming material thereto, an electrical circuit interconnecting said discharge element and receiving means with a source of high potential electrical energy thereby producing an electrical potential difference between said element and receiving means causing the said material to migrate from the element to said memher in filamentary form, and means to adjust the h space between said discharge element and said receiving means without altering the rate of supply of filament forming material thereto to there by control the cross sectional area of the. filament formed.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 29 and wherein the said means for supplying the filament forming material thereto includes a housing surrounding a portion of said discharge element with the said housing having an opening through which said discharge element extends with a clearance thereby regulating the flow of the material through said opening, and the means for adjusting the space between said discharge element and said receiving means includes means for moving said discharge element and housing as a unit towards or away from said receiving means.

31. An apparatus as defined in claim 30 and further comprising a heat exchange means-cooperating with said housing and discharge element adjacent the opening of the former and the extending portion of the latter to thereby control the consistency of the fluidfilamentforming material.

32. An apparatus for producing a continuous filament from electrically chargeable material in fluid state comprising a discharge element, a receiving means including a flexible band spaced from said discharge element and electrically insulated therefrom, means for supplying filament formin material to said element, an electrical circuit interconnecting said discharge element and receiving means with a source of high potential electrical energy thereby producing an electrical potential difference between said element and receiving means causing the said ma terial to migrate from the element to said member in a filamentary form, means movin said member relative to said discharge element to thereby deliver the formed filament from said member, a common supporting means for said discharge element and said receiving means, and

means for tilting said supporting means at an angle with respect to a horizontal reference plane to thereby dispose said band so that the formed filament is retained upon said band by the force of gravity.

33. An apparatus as defined in claim 32 and further comprising means carried by said support and connected with said discharge element to effect adjustment of said element selectively towards and away from said receiving means.

34. An apparatus for producing a continuous filament from electrically chargeable material in fluid state comprising a base, a support pivoted to said base, means cooperating with said base and support for adjusting the angularity of the latter with respect to the former, a discharge element carried by said support, a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted on said support in spaced relationship to each other and to said discharge element, a flexible metallic band trained oversaid pulleys, means to supply fluid filament forming material to said discharge element, an electrical circuit interconnecting said discharge element and .said band with a source of high potential electrical energy, thereby producing an electrical potential difierence between said element and band causing the said material to migrate from the element to said band in filamentary form, means for electrically precharging the said filament forming material before it is subjected to said potential difference between said discharge element and band, said precharging means including a second electrical circuit separate from and independent of the first mentioned electrical circuit, and means rotating said pulleys thereby moving said band to deliver the formed filament therefrom.

WILLIAM C. 'HUEBNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 705,691 Morton July 29, .1902 1,937,225 Hewitt Nov. 28, 19.33 1,955,825 Palmer Apr. 24, 1934 1,975,504 Formhals Oct- 2, 1984 2,041,338 Harrison May 19,, 1936 2,123,992 Formhals July 19, 1938 2,253,089 Nydegger l .Aug. 19, .1941 2,362,674 Spangleret al Nov. 14, 1944 2,403,476 Berry et a1 July9, 1946 

